I've been evaluating a bunch of the senior prospects over the last couple weeks, and I want to get my initial thoughts out there.

1. Jake Matthews – OT – Texas A&M
I like him more than Joeckel as a prospect and think he'll make the transition to LT without a problem.2. Taylor Lewan – OT – Michigan
I had some doubts about Lewan during times through his junior season but he showed great ability having to face Clowney in the bowl game. 3. CJ Mosley – LB – Alabama
Complete backer prospect with the ability to cover and breakdown plays. 4. Tahj Boyd – QB – Clemson
Positional value boosts him up this high, had a much improved junior season.5. James Hurst – OT – North Carolina
James had the luxury of playing next to Cooper but he played very well himself and would get more early attention if it wasn't for Matthews and Lewan. 6. Jason Verrett – CB – TCU
Most complete corner in the entire class and has played the part the last two seasons at TCU.7. Ra’Shede Hageman – DT – Minnesota
As bad as the Gophers are, Hageman is the real deal. Extremely athletic for his size and a solid game against Travis Frederick last year. 8. Bene Bewikere – CB/S – San Jose State
Physical corner with terrific ball skills, thinking he might be more of a safety prospect.9. AJ McCarron – QB – Alabama
Count me as one who likes what I see out of AJ. Positional value does boost him up the board a bit but and he has starting ability for the NFL.10. Aaron Colvin – CB – Oklahoma
Senior class is strong at the top with tackles and secondary players and it's rounded out by Colvin. Another DB with really good ball skills and I could see hm being moved to safety as well. 11. Andrew Jackson – ILB – Western Kentucky
A tackling machine for the Hilltoppers and player who battled, holding his own against Bama while others proved throughout the year that they could not. 12. Anthony Barr – OLB – UCLA
Physically the tools are clearly there with his speed but he will need to develop physicality if he plans on being more than a situational player in the NFL.13. Cyril Richardson – OG – Baylor
Baylor's running attack was an impressive unit last season and Richardson's contributions on the line are a large factor in making it happen.14. Jordan Matthews – WR – Vanderbilt
Big receiving target who has proven to be able to perform despite being the focus of the defense in stopping the pass. Won't wow physically otherwise he'd be higher up. 15. Khalil Mack – OLB – Buffalo
An absolute terror of the edge and it was difficult for me not to put him higher but he is a little on the smaller end. 16. Will Sutton – DT – Arizona State
Much like Mack, Sutton is an absolute terror for opponents but size will be questioned. 17. Christian Jones – OLB – Florida State
I find myself to be difficult on FSU prospects but I like what I see from Jones. He possesses everything you look for in a 43 outside backer prospect. 18. Zack Martin – G/T – Notre Dame
Martin has been a wonderful player for the Irish, might have to kick inside though. Either way, he's no slouch. 19. Hakeem Smith – S – Louisville
Not a strong class for pure safety prospects, but Smith leads the way. A physical presence for Charlie Strong's defense and is a very experienced player.20. Charles Sims – RB – West Virginia
My favorite running back of all the senior. A bigger back with good speed and shifty for his size. Also is an asset in the passing, as to be expected playing at Houston.

I've been evaluating a bunch of the senior prospects over the last couple weeks, and I want to get my initial thoughts out there.

1. Jake Matthews  OT  Texas A&M
I like him more than Joeckel as a prospect and think he'll make the transition to LT without a problem.2. Taylor Lewan  OT  Michigan
I had some doubts about Lewan during times through his junior season but he showed great ability having to face Clowney in the bowl game. 3. CJ Mosley  LB  Alabama
Complete backer prospect with the ability to cover and breakdown plays. 4. Tahj Boyd  QB  Clemson
Positional value boosts him up this high, had a much improved junior season.5. James Hurst  OT  North Carolina
James had the luxury of playing next to Cooper but he played very well himself and would get more early attention if it wasn't for Matthews and Lewan. 6. Jason Verrett  CB  TCU
Most complete corner in the entire class and has played the part the last two seasons at TCU.7. RaShede Hageman  DT  Minnesota
As bad as the Gophers are, Hageman is the real deal. Extremely athletic for his size and a solid game against Travis Frederick last year. 8. Bene Bewikere  CB/S  San Jose State
Physical corner with terrific ball skills, thinking he might be more of a safety prospect.9. AJ McCarron  QB  Alabama
Count me as one who likes what I see out of AJ. Positional value does boost him up the board a bit but and he has starting ability for the NFL.10. Aaron Colvin  CB  Oklahoma
Senior class is strong at the top with tackles and secondary players and it's rounded out by Colvin. Another DB with really good ball skills and I could see hm being moved to safety as well. 11. Andrew Jackson  ILB  Western Kentucky
A tackling machine for the Hilltoppers and player who battled, holding his own against Bama while others proved throughout the year that they could not. 12. Anthony Barr  OLB  UCLA
Physically the tools are clearly there with his speed but he will need to develop physicality if he plans on being more than a situational player in the NFL.13. Cyril Richardson  OG  Baylor
Baylor's running attack was an impressive unit last season and Richardson's contributions on the line are a large factor in making it happen.14. Jordan Matthews  WR  Vanderbilt
Big receiving target who has proven to be able to perform despite being the focus of the defense in stopping the pass. Won't wow physically otherwise he'd be higher up. 15. Khalil Mack  OLB  Buffalo
An absolute terror of the edge and it was difficult for me not to put him higher but he is a little on the smaller end. 16. Will Sutton  DT  Arizona State
Much like Mack, Sutton is an absolute terror for opponents but size will be questioned. 17. Christian Jones  OLB  Florida State
I find myself to be difficult on FSU prospects but I like what I see from Jones. He possesses everything you look for in a 43 outside backer prospect. 18. Zack Martin  G/T  Notre Dame
Martin has been a wonderful player for the Irish, might have to kick inside though. Either way, he's no slouch. 19. Hakeem Smith  S  Louisville
Not a strong class for pure safety prospects, but Smith leads the way. A physical presence for Charlie Strong's defense and is a very experienced player.20. Charles Sims  RB  Houston
My favorite running back of all the senior. A bigger back with good speed and shifty for his size. Also is an asset in the passing, as to be expected playing at Houston.

I agree a with a lot of the list. just a few comments where i have a different view

AJ McCarron would not make my top 20 at all

Anthony Barr would be substantially higher given his production with a total lack of experience playing OLB. can only imagine what happens when he plays a bit more and learns the finesse of the game.

Zach Martin will prove that he belongs at LT if he hasnt already. Been the most consistent and quite frankly the best OLineman the irish have produced since Lou Holtz. Hell he got the nod to start at LT as a rs frosh over a ton of experienced 5 star prospects and stuff.

Andrew Jackson is a relatively small school tackling machine, they always tend to fall. that being said i think he is really good, just dont think his draft position will reflect that as much as his production would warrant.

Originally Posted by JoeJoeBrown
The most important thing, however, is how strong their swagger factors are.
Newton
South of the Mason Dixon +10 swagger
Barely literate +5 swagger
Thief +15 swagger
Kicked off of a team of thugs +20 swagger
Big, average speed -3 swagger
Hasn't done jacksquat on the field +15 swagger
Total Swagger: 62ATL College Park Zone 3* +20 swagger Bonus pts

Originally Posted by JoeJoeBrown
The most important thing, however, is how strong their swagger factors are.
Newton
South of the Mason Dixon +10 swagger
Barely literate +5 swagger
Thief +15 swagger
Kicked off of a team of thugs +20 swagger
Big, average speed -3 swagger
Hasn't done jacksquat on the field +15 swagger
Total Swagger: 62ATL College Park Zone 3* +20 swagger Bonus pts

McCarron strikes me as yet another mediocre, but consistent, Bama QB surrounded by the most talented team in the country.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FUNBUNCHER

I hear that about McCarron, but I think he's much better than mediocre.
I see decent to good arm strength and the ability to make plays when required, which wasn't often for Alabama.

When that team leaned on him to play like an AA QB, McCarron produced.

I think McCarron has a great opportunity to be taken in the first round in '14.

I agree with FUNBUNCHER here. I think it's unfair to lump him in with the recent QBs to go thru Alabama (Greg McElroy and John Parker Wilson) because physically he is better than both and he has shown the ability to go and win the team a game when the time calls.

I do not. I think he's one of the five best senior receivers to this point, but I'm not seeing a player who's one of the best overall in the class.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brothgar

Is it just me or does it seem like Tahj Boyd has a weird throwing motion?

Boyd likes to throw from some different arm slots and I don't classify that as a bad thing, especially with him being effective in doing so. I prefer how he throws the ball over a player like EJ Manuel, who can only operate from one arm slot regardless of the circumstance.

I guess Morgan Breslin's good play against the run and 13 sacks is some sort of mirage. Somehow everyone was all over Jarvis Jones's nuts for the same thing. Less actually when you factor in the 4.9 forty.

I guess Morgan Breslin's good play against the run and 13 sacks is some sort of mirage. Somehow everyone was all over Jarvis Jones's nuts for the same thing. Less actually when you factor in the 4.9 forty.

With Breslin I see a game very similar to John Simon. He's a high effort player and will have a niche in the league but physically he doesn't offer enough to go high.

I guess Morgan Breslin's good play against the run and 13 sacks is some sort of mirage. Somehow everyone was all over Jarvis Jones's nuts for the same thing. Less actually when you factor in the 4.9 forty.

I wasn't a big Jarvis Jones fan. The position they were asked to play for their respective defense last year was different so it's not exactly an apples to apples comparison. Jones didn't time well but he did play with pretty good game speed and will be expected to be an edge rusher as he's not as asset against the run. When Breslin steps into the league, the expectation will be similar for him.

I agree with Christian Jones' ranking because while he has all the physical tools and highly touted, he needs to do more on the field.

I like where you have CJ Mosley - I think he will stay there all year.

Mack is a beast, and I feel he should be little higher on the list despite the size concern.

The only one I had a major concern with was Boyd. As I stated in the other thread about top QB's for 2014, I like Boyd but he still has a long way to go as far as being a polished QB. I wouldn't put him over McCarron right now. If he makes the same strides he did last season, then yes he is potential top QB.

__________________Sig by the King BK

Fear the Spear - Winston Era has begun....

Quote:

"I wasn't going to lose to Miami, no matter what," Freeman said. "It means a lot to go out there and beat them. Every time I get a chance, I want to destroy them."

The only one I had a major concern with was Boyd. As I stated in the other thread about top QB's for 2014, I like Boyd but he still has a long way to go as far as being a polished QB. I wouldn't put him over McCarron right now. If he makes the same strides he did last season, then yes he is potential top QB.

I can understand have McCarron ahead of Boyd at this point. AJ feels like more of a sure thing while Tahj showed considerable improvement this last year and has the higher ceiling.

There's no denying Van Noy's production at BYU, but when I watch him play I have the same concerns that I come away with when I look at Anthony Barr; both players struggle with the physical aspect of the game. When translating to the NFL, his relentlessness will be a plus but he's undersized and I wonder if his frame is maxed out.

I do not. I think he's one of the five best senior receivers to this point, but I'm not seeing a player who's one of the best overall in the class.

Boyd likes to throw from some different arm slots and I don't classify that as a bad thing, especially with him being effective in doing so. I prefer how he throws the ball over a player like EJ Manuel, who can only operate from one arm slot regardless of the circumstance.